What Is A Ceramic Bearing

Mrc hybrid ceramic ball bearings use a combination of traditional 52100 steel rings precision matched with silicon nitride ceramic balls.

What is a ceramic bearing.

The balls and rolling elements in a ball bearing are traditionally made of steel. Because ceramic bearings are rounder with a smoother surface and more uniform size friction is reduced and that can contribute to a less energy required to turn the cranks or spin the wheels. However ceramic ball bearings have emerged and are being used in a variety of. Full ceramic bearings are also non magnetic meaning they can be used in medical devices such as mri scanners or any application where there is a strong magnetic field.

The bearing clearance is a measurement given to the small gap between the inner race outer race and balls. On ceramic bearings this is usually a c3 clearance whilst on steel it s usually cn. Boca bearings is the leader in ceramic and ceramic hybrid bearing technology for industrial and recreational applications. It is required to prevent bearing seizure when it warms up and expands.

Ceramic ball bearings are ball bearings that are made of ceramic rather than steel. Full ceramic bearings have races and balls that are made entirely of ceramic material and are superior to common steel bearings in many ways. In addition to being excellent electric insulators hybrid bearings have a higher speed capability and will provide longer service life than all steel bearings in most applications. Full ceramic bearings have a very low coefficient of friction compared to steel bearings or even hybrid bearings.

Performance ceramic bearings have an enemy. However ceramic bearings do not perform well when lubricated with grease lubricant. Rolling resistance is the key trump card promoted by ceramic bearing fans. Grease lubricant is the most commonly used type of lubricant in the cycling industry because it provides consistent lubrication over a long period of time with little to no maintenance.

While regular bearings are made from stainless steel ceramic bearings are made from ceramic silicon nitride si2n4. Are ceramic bearings waterproof. No ceramic bearings are self lubricating however in humid and coastal environments using a small amount to keep the steel casings free from rust is a common practice. Ceramic is the perfect material for any application seeking to achieve higher rpm s reduce overall weight or for extremely harsh environments where high temperatures and corrosive substances are present.